Automatic valve.



No. 7oa,|79. Patented sept. 2, |902. v

H. E. STAG'ER. AuToMATIc VALVE.

(Application med Aug. 23. 1901.)

(No Model.)

YIM

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. STAGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 08,17' 9, dated September 2, 1902.

v Application tiled August 23, 1901. Serial No. 73,078. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Beit known that LHENRY E. SVTAGER, a citilzen of the United States, residing at Chicago,

in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic'Valves, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the production of an automatic valve for steam-radiators that while permittingthe escape of cold air from the radiator wholly prevents the escape of water or the continued escape of steam.

A further object of this invention is to render such a valve simple, cheap, and durable and'not easily tampered with or gotten out of order. f

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical central section through a valve embodying the features of my invention, showing the parts in position to permit the escape of cold air. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the parts in position to prevent the escape of steam. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the parts in position to prevent the escape of Water from the valve. Fig. lisatransverse section on dotted line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a View of the key with which the expansible pencil of the valve is adjusted.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the production of this valve I provide the bottom A, in cup form, having the integral hollow externally-threaded plug `A extending from its side and communicating with its interior. By means of this plug the valve is connected with the radiator. The inner side of the cup A is provided with the integral vertical guide-ribs A2 for a purpose to be hereinafter mentioned, audits upper edge has the internal screw-threads A3. An airbell B is adapted to sit within the cup A, being held in position centrally therein by the Vertical guide-ribs A3. This air-bell is formed, preferably, from sheet-copper, and its upper end is provided with the spur B. The bell B is so placed Within the cup A that air or steam entering said cup through the hollow plug A' may pass upward beside said bell without disturbing it.

A tubular shell C, formed, preferably, from seamless brass tubing, is provided with the screw-threads C/Yand U3 at opposite ends of said shell, the threads C being adapted to engage with the corresponding screw-threads A3 of the bottom cup A. Acap D, internally screw-threaded to correspond with the screwthreads C2 of the shell C, is secured by said screw-thread connection to the upper end of said shell. This cap is provided with an integral central tubular body portion D', provided at its lower end with the opening D3, coinciding with and adapted to receive the spur Bl of the air-bell B, also with the air-escape opening D3, extendingthrough the side of said tubularbody portion D. The upper end of said tubular bodyvpor-tion is internally screw-threaded and is provided with acorrespondingly screw-threaded closure D4, having the two depressions D5 in its face for the insertion of the points of a suitable key. The face of the opening D3 within the tubular body portion D' is surrounded with a raised rim D"l asa seat for the expansible thermal closure to be next described.

Eis a pencil composed ofV an expansible composition held within the tubular body portion D by its supporting screw-threaded plug E', which latter is externally screw-threaded to correspond with the internal screw-threads of said body portion D. The plug E has a socket E3 formed in its end for the reception of the end of the pencil F., and in its opposite side has the two depressions E3, adapted to receive the points of the operating-key hereinbefore mentioned and to be next described. F is said operating-key, having the two points F', adapted to enter the openings D3 of the closure Dl and the depressions in the plug E. The closure D4 and the plug E are provided with depressions, andV thus adapted to be operated by the key FV in order that the valve shall not be tampered with and its proper adjustment disturbed.

In use this automatic valve is secured to a radiator in the usual manner by means ofthe screw-threaded plug A and its parts properly adjusted. When steam is admitted to the radiator, the cold air in the pipes is forced through said hollow plug A into the cup A and the shell C through the opening D2 into the tubular body portion D', escaping to the outer air through the opening D3. When the cold air has all been driven from the radiator,

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steam enters the tubular body portion D of the valve, and the heat of said steam eX- pands the composition pencil E, causing the end of the pencil to iit tlrrnly against the raised rim D6, surroundingthe opening D2 in the bottom end of the tubular portion D', closing said opening and preventing further escape of steam therethrough. The heat of the steam within the shell C is sufficient to maintain the heat of the pencil E and prevent its contraction to uncovei` the opening D2. Vhen, however, from any cause said pencil becomes sufliciently cool to contract and withdraw from said rim D6, cold air first escapes through the opening D2 until steam is again brought within the shell O and the tubular body portion D', and the pencil again contacts the rim D6 and closes said opening D2. It water is forced through thehollow plug A into the cup A, it rises within the cup A until it buoys 4up the air-bell B therein. \Vhen said air-bell is raised suiiiciently, the spur B of the air-bell B enters the opening D2 of the tubular body portion Dand prevents the escape of said water from the shell C. The shell C acts as an air-chamber, air being compressed within its upper end by the incoming water, and said air-pressure tends to force the water from said cup A. 'lhe p0- sition of the expansible pencil E is made adjustable with relation to the annular rim D, against which it closes, by turning the threaded plug E in the internal screw-threads of the tubular body portion D/ by means of the key F. The air-bell, as will readily be seen, acts as a ioat.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a valve for steam-radiators, in combination, an outer shell or casing having an in- 1etopening and an air-escape opening; a tubular body portion formed integral with one of the ends of said shell or casing, projecting into the interior thereof and being provided at its inner end with an opening; an air-bell within said outer casing, having a projection adapted to close the opening in said body portion; and a pencil expansible by heat, mounted in said body portion and adapted to close the opening therein.

2. In a valve for steam-radiators, in combination, a bottom cup provided with a screwthreaded plug for connecting said valve with a radiator, said plug having an opening extending therethrough and communicating with the interior of the bottom cup; a casingshell secured to said bottom cup; an air-bell in said bottom cup and said casing-shell, the bottom of said air-bell being normally below the mouth of the opening through said plug; a projection on said air-bell; a tubular body portion formed integral with one of the ends of said casing-shell, projecting .nto the interior thereof and being provided at its inner end with an opening adapted to be closed by the projection on said air-bell; and a pencil expansible by heat, mounted in said body portion and adapted to close the opening therein.

In a valve for steam-radiators, in combination, a bottom cup provided with a screwthreaded plug for connecting said valve with a radiator, said plug having an opening extending therethrough and communicating with the interior of the bottom cup; acasingshell secured to said bottom cup; an air-bell in said bottom cup and said casing-shell, the bottom of said air-bell being normally below the mouth of the opening through said plug; a projection on said air-bell; a cap secured to the upper end of said casing-shell; a tubular body portion supported within said casingshell by said cap, said body portion having an opening in its lower end adapted to be closed by the projection on said air-bell; a pencil expansible by heat, also adapted to close said opening; a plug in'said tubular body portion, for supporting said pencil, said plug having a screw-thread engagement with the body portion; and a closure for the upper end ot said tubular body portion.

4. In a' valve for steam-radiators, in combination, a bottom cup provided with a screwthreaded plug for connecting said valve with a radiator, said plug having an opening extending therethrough and communicating with the interior of the bottom cup; vertical guides upon the inner walls of said bottom cup; a casing-shell having a screw-thread engagement with said bottom cup; an air-bell in said bottom cup and said casing-shell, the bottom of said air-bell being normally below the mouth of the opening through said plug; a projection on said air-bell; a cap having a screw-thread engagement with the upper end of said casing-shell; a tubular body portion formed integral with said cap and extending into said casing-shell, said body portion having an opening in its lower end adapted to be closed by the projection on said air-bell; a raised rim around the opening in said body portion; a pencil expansible by heat, adapted when expanded to contact said raised rim to close said opening; a plug in said tubular body portion, for supporting said pencil, said plug having a screw-thread engagement with the body portion; and a closure for the upper end of said tubular body portion.

HENRY E. STAGER.

Witnesses:

L. L. MILLER, ALBERT U. STAGER.

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